Chapter Twenty-Four
Elizabeth
This fit here in the timeline, though I wrote it after the Band of Cousins.
I know it’s confusing. I confuse myself sometimes.
Chapter Four
A neighboring laird doesn’t approve of Alex’s grandbairns…big mistake...
Elizabeth’s three nephews flew down the stairs with their small wooden swords in hand.
Alasdair pushed directly in front of the Norseman, but the man’s second, the burly oaf called Sten, picked him up and set him behind them.
The lad did not like that, as evidenced by Alasdair’s sword swinging down in a wide arc, the wood smacking Sten’s hand with a loud sound.
“You wee wild thing, stop with the sword.” He took the sword from Alasdair and broke it over his knee. Then he tried to strike Alasdair, but the boy was too quick.
That brought Els and Alick to his defense, swinging wildly while Alasdair launched at the man with his fists. “You’ll not hurt any of us, especially Aunt Elizabeth.”
The voices reached a loud din but Alex put an end to it, standing from his seat and bellowing, “Lads!” Jamie came out and grabbed Els, while Jake grabbed Alasdair and Alick.
Once they stopped, Sten brushed his hands in front of them with a smirk.
Alex turned to him, his expression flat. “You’ll take your leave, Sten.”
“What? Why?” he asked, his face turning a bright red.
“You broke one of my grandson’s possessions and tried to hit him. You’ll leave the hall and not come back.”
Gil noticed Alasdair looked as if he were about to break into tears. He buried his face in his sire’s waist, mumbling, “Grandpapa gave me that sword.”
Glad that his attention didn’t stand out amidst the growing crowd, he continued to watch the events as they happened in front of him. It was as if the minstrels had planned the show for them this morn.
The great hall was quite full at the moment, but in between bouts of words, it was so silent they would have all heard a feather fall to the floor. Gil did his best not to smile at the lads, but how he admired them for not being afraid of the daft men in front of them.
Orvar nodded to the man, and Sten left, his feet stomping all the way across the floor. Once the door shut behind him, Orvar turned to Alex. “My apologies to the lads and to you, Laird Grant.” Even though he was no longer laird, many gave him the respect by using the title.
Jake sent the three lads back up the stairs. “We’ll get you another sword later, lad,” he called after them.
Alasdair ran ahead of the other two, his shoulders shaking as if the tears had finally shaken loose.
Laird MacTear said, “Do you not think that was a bit harsh, Laird?”
That comment had Gil spinning around to make sure he didn’t miss Alex’s answer to the laird. It was a rare event when someone dared to question Alexander Grant. He certainly wasn’t fool enough to make that mistake.
MacTear directed his comment at Alex. “Bairns should not be in the hall with the adults, should they?”
Elizabeth did a slow turn and said, “Explain yourself, please.”
“Naught to explain, my lady. Bairns can be loud and rambunctious with all their crying and demands, do you not agree? ’Tis their way to behave out of sorts, so keep them out. The elders should not have to witness such behavior.”
“Nay, I do not agree at all,” she said sharply, her eyes traveling to her mother.
Alex said, “My grandchildren are welcome in the hall. Always.”
“As you wish,” MacTear mumbled, his hands now behind his back.
Chapter Sixteen
Alex needs to deal with his fury, so goes to the place he visits just for that reason.
Alex wouldn’t rest until his dearest Elizabeth had returned. His gut told him he’d made a huge mistake allowing her to travel to Edinburgh, but they’d sent her with Magnus and a powerful group of guards. He’d believed there was no reason to worry.
Visitors came to the gate unexpectedly, and the sound of their approach caused his gut to roil a bit more.
He recognized their voices even from his perch in the parapets.
Maggie and Will, while very dear to him, usually were not the bearers of good news.
Spies for the Scottish Crown, their work had become more hazardous after King Alexander III had snapped his neck in a fall off his horse.
His daughter did not appear to be among them. Usually her golden hair would be easy to spot, but the only lass he saw from his vantage point was Maggie. He had to get to the gates because there would be a definite reason those two had come at such a time.
His breath caught in his chest as he descended the steps, cut through the great hall, and made his way to the gate with Connor and Jake, whom he’d caught up with in the courtyard.
None of the three had spoken as they fell into line with one another. Alex didn’t need to ask to know they shared his concern—he could tell by looking at their faces.
“Welcome, Will, Maggie,” Jake said. “We’ll take care of your horses if you’ll join us inside for a bite to eat.” He motioned for two lads to take their horses to the stables. “Brush them down and feed them well, lads.”
Alex didn’t speak until the two were dismounted and the lads had left them. Finally, he said, “’Tis Elizabeth, is it not?”
Maggie searched the area for prying ears before she answered, “Aye. She was kidnapped not far from the inn in Edinburgh. She’d followed Magnus out to ask him to get something else for her at the market.
She wasn’t far from the inn when a scuffle broke out, drawing everyone’s attention, and someone snatched her.
It happened in the space of a few moments.
Magnus and your guards are still out searching. ”
“Give my sons the details inside, and I’ll join you shortly,” Alex said. “Answer me this first. How is Gil?”
“We traveled back with him. His wound was severe and he fought the fever, but your sister, Jennie, helped him. He went straight to Loki for reinforcements. They’ll be on the road by morning.”
“My thanks to you for coming to advise us of the situation so quickly. We’ll have search teams out shortly.
I will lead one of them.” He nodded to the group and found his horse, mounting in one fluid move and taking off into the distance.
He paused just long enough to look back at Connor and say, “Tell your mother I’ll return shortly. ”
Will had made his way straight to Jamie and looked to be rapidly updating his son on the situation. They didn’t need him.
He knew it might upset Maddie, but she knew him better than anyone.
It wouldn’t surprise her that he’d needed to visit the private place he’d created for moments when he needed to be alone.
He’d built it on an overlook so he could see anyone climbing the mountain to enter his land.
Other than that, it had been chosen for its abundance of pines.
This was the one place where he allowed himself to lose all control and get rid of his rage. Maddie wasn’t allowed, only his sons.
Never had he needed it more.
A bastard had stolen his dearest Elizabeth, had dared to steal her in the middle of Edinburgh. Over the years, he’d learned to control his temper, but this…this…this was too much.
When he reached the spot, he jumped off his horse and found the perfect pine tree.
Unsheathing his sword, he lifted it over his head and brought it down hard on the first branch, slicing it cleanly off.
He continued on and on until there was little left of the tree.
His breath ragged, he wiped the sweat from his brow and sat on a tree stump for a few moments, though he knew not how long.
If he didn’t get rid of his rage here, he’d take it out on others.
He’d tie up anyone he suspected of complicity in the kidnapping and beat them until they talked.
But that was wrong and he knew it. Learning to control his temper was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he’d done it for Maddie, because he could see how much his rage frightened her.
Coming out here alone allowed him to go back home with a cooler head, to achieve the right frame of mind to strategize and plan.
Otherwise, his emotions ruled his actions.
The only son who seemed to have the same temperament was Jake. They’d come out here together before, and indeed, it appeared Jake had also come out on his own. Alex had felled and struck many trees, but not all the ones showing slices in their bark.
His breathing now under control, he got up and went after another tree, imagining that the bark was the baron who’d dared to touch his daughter. His bairn.
His Elizabeth!
Chapter Eighteen
Elizabeth watches from the tower she’s locked in and fears for her sire’s life.
Tears filled her eyes as she watched her sire dismount his horse and slowly stride over to stand in front of MacTear, Loki and Thorn following him at a slight distance. The crowd finally quieted as everyone strained to hear what was being said. Elizabeth bit back tears so she wouldn’t miss a word.
“Where is my daughter? Release her now, MacTear.”
“Are you addled, Grant? She’s not here. We already discussed this.
Go search the Norseman’s land.” MacTear stood on the platform in the middle of the courtyard, but her father was so tall he could nearly look him in the eye anyway.
MacTear began to ramble. “Or go to the baron. He already tried to steal her once. He must be the guilty party. I’m your neighbor. I wouldn’t act against you.”
Dead silence from the crowd.
Her father merely looked at him. It must have been one of his severe looks because the bastard couldn’t stop his rambling.
“Had I any knowledge of her location, I would have told you when we met a few hours ago. I searched but found nothing, so we returned to the castle for rest and the midday meal.”
If it were possible for a man to squirm while standing, MacTear was attempting it. He looked as uncomfortable as anyone she’d ever seen, but he held his position.